Aside from perhaps the Toy Story franchise, it’s hard to work up enthusiasm for sequels in the animation. Often crafted with the sole purpose to cash in on a returning (and hopefully expanding) audience, there’s few that match up the original film. Next summer, however, there’s one follow-up we’re greatly anticipating. After How to Train Your Dragon was one of my favorite entries in the genre in recent years, the sequel is arriving, and today brings the full-length trailer.
Directed once again by Dean DeBlois, the story picks up five years ahead with Toothless and Hiccup. The action looks to be on a much bigger playing field this time around, featuring an all-out war. There’s also a major plot point revealed with Cate Blanchett’s character, so proceed with caution. Featuring the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harington and Djimon Hounsou, check it out below, along with the poster.
The thrilling second chapter of the epic How To train Your Dragon trilogy brings back the world Hiccup (Baruchel) and Toothless five years later. While Astrid (ferrera), Snoutlout (Hill) and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. When one of their adventures leads to the discovery of a secret ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Hiccup and Toothless will lead hundreds of hero dragons in defense of Dragon Mountain, battling against Drago Bloodfist’s huge army of Dragon Hunters and their ruthless war machines.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 opens on June 20th, 2014.